Applying a sufficient quantity of an Alkali metal or an Alkaline earth metal to a fluid in a stripping process loop 106 to form a first intermediary compound and thereby, to strip the undesired element from the process fluid 102. The first intermediary compound 130 is processed in a recovery process loop 110 to recover the Alkali metal or Alkaline earth metal. The recovered Alkali metal or Alkaline earth metal is then re-introduced to an additional quantity of process fluid to strip and clean the undesired element from the additional quantity of the process fluid. A recovery process loop 110 may include either or both of a chemical substitution process, and an electrolytic process, effective to separate the Alkali metal or Alkaline earth metal from the undesired element or another compound.

Systems and methods for feeding solid material and a gas into a container (e.g., electrolytic cell) are generally described. Certain methods comprise feeding solid material and a gas into an electrolytic cell through an inlet; wherein: the gas comprises an inert gas; and the inlet is positioned, relative to an anode of the electrolytic cell, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode. Certain systems comprise a container configured for molten salt electrolysis; a passageway configured for feeding solid material and a gas into the container; an anode; a cathode; and an outlet configured for releasing a gas from the container; wherein an inlet from the passageway to the container is positioned, relative to the anode, within a distance that is less than or equal to 5 times the shortest cross-sectional dimension of the anode.

Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

Method and apparatus are provided for efficient metal distillation, and for related primary product process. Vertically stacked and gravity-driven evaporators and condensers are employed to distill metals, such metals having different volatilities. A multiple-effect thermal system of magnesium and other volatile metals is used to efficiently distill and separate metals from multiple metal alloys.

A system for extracting oxygen from powdered metal oxides, the system comprising a container comprising an electrolyte in the form of meltable or molten salt, at least one cathode, at least one anode, a power supply, and a conducting structure, wherein the cathode is shaped as a receptacle having a porous shell, which has an upper opening, the cathode being arranged in the electrolyte with the opening protruding over the electrolyte, wherein the conducting structure comprises a plurality of conducting elements and gaps between the conducting elements, wherein the power supply is connectable to the at least one cathode and the at least one anode to selectively apply an electric potential across the cathode and the anode, wherein the conducting structure is insertable into the cathode, such that the conducting elements reach into an inner space of the cathode, wherein the conducting structure is electrically connectable to the cathode, and wherein the system is adapted for reducing at least one respective metallic species of at least one metal oxide of feedstock inside the shell of the cathode with inserted conducting structure by applying the electric potential, wherein the potential is greater than the dissociation potential of the at least one metal oxide.

The invention provides an in situ method for protecting material exposed to molten salt, the method having the steps of supplying metal in a first nonreactive state to the molten salt to create a mixture; measuring a redox state of the mixture; and transforming the metal to a second reactive state when the redox state indicates corrosion of the material is about to occur. Also provided is a system for preventing corrosion of structural alloys in molten salt environments, the system having a vessel defining a void containing the molten salt; a voltammetry sensor inserted into the molten salt; a first cathode inserted into the molten salt; and a first anode inserted into the molten salt, whereby the cathode and anode are in electrical communication with an electrical power source.

Methods for forming magnesium batteries include improved processes for synthesizing magnesium electrolytes. The magnesium electrolytes include boron cluster anions, and the improved methods are solid phase or solution phase reactions that yield the desired magnesium boron cluster electrolytes from inexpensive, commercially available starting materials in a single step with relatively high purity.

Methods for forming magnesium batteries include improved processes for synthesizing magnesium electrolytes. The magnesium electrolytes include boron cluster anions, and the improved methods are solid phase or solution phase reactions that yield the desired magnesium boron cluster electrolytes from inexpensive, commercially available starting materials in a single step with relatively high purity.

The present description relates to an anode arrangement for use in an electrolysis production of metals comprising an anode having a hollow body comprising a cavity, the body having at least one gas outlet connected in flow communication with the cavity. A gas inlet is connected in fluid flow communication with the cavity of the anode, the gas inlet being connectable to a source of hydrogen gas for feeding hydrogen gas into the cavity of the anode. The anode arrangement also comprises an electrical connector and a hydrogen chloride (HCl) recuperator surrounding at least a portion of the anode for recovering HCl gas released through the at least one gas outlet at an outer surface of the anode during electrolysis.

The present description relates to an anode arrangement for use in an electrolysis production of metals comprising an anode having a hollow body comprising a cavity, the body having at least one gas outlet connected in flow communication with the cavity. A gas inlet is connected in fluid flow communication with the cavity of the anode, the gas inlet being connectable to a source of hydrogen gas for feeding hydrogen gas into the cavity of the anode. The anode arrangement also comprises an electrical connector and a hydrogen chloride (HCl) recuperator surrounding at least a portion of the anode for recovering HCl gas released through the at least one gas outlet at an outer surface of the anode during electrolysis.